112 A HISTORY OF 



ceptible degrees, covering them for a large extent, and leaving then* 

 bare on its recess. Upon these shores, as was said, the sea seldom 

 beats with any great violence, as a large wave has not depth sufficient 

 to float it onwards, so that here only are to be seen gentle surges 

 making calmly towards land, and lessening as they approach. As 

 the sea, in the former description, is generally seen to present pros- 

 pects of tumult and uproar, here it more usually exhibits a scene of 

 repose and tranquil beauty. Its waters which, when surveyed from 

 the precipice, afforded a muddy greenish hue, arising from their depth 

 and position to the eye*, when regarded from a shelving shore wear 

 the colour of the sky, and seem rising to meet it. The deafening 

 noise of the deep sea, is here converted into gentle murmurs ; instead 

 of the water dashing against the face of the rock, it advances and re- 

 cedes, still going forward, but with just force enough to push its weeds 

 and shells, by insensible approaches, to the shore. 



There are other shores, besides those already described, which 

 either have been raised by art, to oppose the sea's approaches, or, 

 from the sea's gaining ground, are threatened with imminent destruc- 

 tion. The sea's being thus seen to give and take away lands at plea- 

 sure, is, without question, one of the most extraordinary considerations 

 in all natural history. In some places it is seen to obtain the superi- 

 ority by slow and certain approaches ; or to burst in at once, and 

 overwhelm all things in undistinguished destruction ; in other places 

 it departs from its shores, and where its waters have been known to 

 rage, it leaves fields covered with the most beautiful verdure. 



The formation of new lands by the sea's continually bringing its 

 sediment to one place, and by the accumulation of its sands in an- 

 other, is easily conceived. We have had many instances of this in 

 England. The island of Oxney, which is adjacent to Romney-marsh, 

 was produced in this manner. This had for a long time been a low 

 Jevel, continually in danger of being overflown by the river Rother ; 

 iut the sea, by its depositions, has gradually raised the bottom of the 

 riv.er, while it has hollowed the mouth ; so that the one is sufficiently 

 secured from inundations, and the other is deep enough to admit ships 

 of considerable burthen. The like also may be seen at that bank 

 called the Doggersands, where two tides meet, and which thus re- 

 ceives new increase every day, so that in time the place seems to 

 promise fair for being habitable earth. On many parts of the coasts 

 of France, England, Holland, Germany, and Prussia, the sea has been 

 sensibly known to retire.t Hubert Thomas asserts, in his Descrip- 

 tion of the Country of Liege, that the sea formerly encompassed the 

 city of Tongres, which, however, is at present thirty-five leagues dis- 

 tant from it. this assertion he supports by many strong reasons; and 

 among others, by the iron rings fixed in the walls of the town, for 

 fastening the ships that came into the port. In Italy there is a con- 

 siderable piece of ground gained at the mouth of the river Arno; and 

 Ravenna, that once stood bv the sea-side, is now considerably re- 

 moved from it. But we ueuu scarce mention these, when we find 

 that the whole republic of Holland seems to be a conquest upon th 



Nswton's Optic's, p. 133167. f Buffon, vol. vi. p. 424 



